Antifreeze composition



llnited States Pa ent ANTIFREEZE COMPOSITION Claude Ross Cutlip, Wilmington, Del., and Richard David Sc'heer, Kennett Square, Pa., assignorsjto E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application November-21,1956

Serial No. 623,537 1 I 3 Claims. Cl. 252-75 metal surfaces in contact with the coolant over a period longer than. one winter. This limitation in metal protection compels the manufacturers of glycol antifreeze solutions to recommend to their customer-users that the solutions must, for .safety reasons, be drained out of'the cooling systems after each seasons use. Insofar as the antifreeze characteristics are concerned, the solutions retain substantially all of their initial effectiveness; potential corrosive tendencies, however, exist and make continued use inadvisable.

borate is outstandingly effective as acorrosion inhibitor in alcoholic antifreeze compositions (Kepfer U.S.

1,911,195, issued'May 30,1933). Many attempts have been made to provide improved antifreeze 'solutions'containing inhibitors other than sodium tetraborate. Despite these numerous'attempts, much of the antifreeze manufactured in this country at the present time contains the sodium tetraborate corrosion inhibitor.

, It has been discovered in recent years, however, that an improved corrosion inhibiting action can be obtained by using paired inhibitors, e.g., by pairing sodium tetra- ;borate with mercaptobenzothiazole (Keller U.S. 2,373,570, April 10, 1945), or by employing an alkali metal tetraboratein combination, with an. alkali metal phosphate (Canadian Patent 438,016, issued to Duns, November 19, 1946; Kiifer U.S. 2,384,553, issued September 11, 1945 The discovery of the synergistic action of -the sodium tetraborate-mercaptobenzothiazole inhibitor has made possible the manufacture of antifreeze compositions which remain non-corrosive for more extensive periods of time. The pairingrof an alkali metal tetra- ,borate withan alkali metal'phosphate also has given rise to antifreeze compositionssuperior to those obtainable by the use of individualinhibitors.

. The above described corrosion inhibited glycol-type antifreeze solutions, while'virtually unsurpassed from the standpoint'of anti-corrosion properties, have certain disadvantages which are also present in other corrosion- 'inhibited glycol-type antifreezes to an even greater extent. For example, under some conditions of use they even- 'tually' lose their initially excellent non-corrosive property.

An 'object of the present invention is to provide further to a corrosive state can be detected by any and everyone For many years it has been known that;sodium tetra- '3 2,937,146 Patented May 17,- 1960 Iron Corrosion Solutions Taken From Cars Rate Per Thousandths of an Inch Per Year N one of the reserve alkalinity 10st (basic solution) 9 Half of the reserve alkalinity lost (basic solution) 80 Three quarters of the reserve alkalinity lost 100 All of the reserve alkalinity lost (acidic solution) 600 These studies and others support the conclusion that a solution. that has lost no more than half of its initial reserve alkalinity during the first year ofuse, may safely be used for a second winter season, while those with a greater loss should zb'e drained to avoid undue corrosion. While these results can he arrived at by carefully con trolled studies of car operation supported by laboratory analysis. of antifreeze solutions, facilities for analyzing spent or partially spent antifreeze solutions are not available to the car user or to the garage mechanic who needs a quick and easy method for checking the used antifreeze for corrosive properties. Consequently, such solutions have been and are ordinarily discarded, willy nilly, in the interest of safety, after a single years use.

The-invention is directed to the preparation of glycoltype antifreeze solutions that the ordinary user of an automobile, the mechanic, and others unskilled in research and in chemistry, can examine and determine, to

his own satisfaction, whether or not the used antifreeze should be retained or replaced. The problem of developing such a solution was a difficult one. The problem has been before the industry fora number of years with no satisfactory. answer, for obviously the general public neither has available for usethe facilities of a research laboratory nor training to use such facilities, were they available. The solution to the problem must provide some extremely simple means of recognizing the inversion of the antifreeze solution. i The composition of the. present invention potentiall provides the solution to the problem. Said composition comprises a, polyhydric alcohol, in concentrated form, with a corrosion inhibitor and a stable dye, or indicator, that changes color when the solution inverts from the'noncorrosive to the corrosive state. With such a solution in his car radiator, the ordinary car owner for the first time 7 is able, by simple observation of the color of the solution, to determine its utility and whether or not it should be discarded.

.The alcoholic antifreeze compositions which are em ployed in the practice of the invention contain watersoluble polyhydric alcohols, e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycols, butylene glycols, glycerol, 1,3-butylene glycol,

etc., or mixtures thereof, as freezing point depressants. The preferred undiluted composition of the invention contains from 90, o 96% by weightof the polyhydric alcohol or alcohols. These solutions contain corrosion inpreferred inhibitors are the alkali metal borates. The quantity of alkali metal meta borate employed as corrosion inhibitor may be 0.5 to 7.5% of the weight of the alcohol. The alkali metal meta borate may be added to the ethylene glycol directly or formed in situ by adding an alkali metal borate together with an alkali metal hydroxide to the solution. Organic inhibitors, such as mercaptobenzothiazole compounds (e.g. mercaptobenzothiazole, alkali metal mercaptobenzothiazoles, etc.), diisopropyl amine nitrite, mono-, diand tri-ethanol amine and salts thereof, etc. may be used in combination with the alkali metal meta borate inhibitor, if'desired. The weight of organic inhibitor, when one, is used, should be from 0.0001 to 0.5%, based on the weight of alcohol. These organic inhibitors may be omitted altogether, if desired, or they may be used in extremely small quantities.

The indicators used in the antifreeze solution are limited to those that (1) have one distinctive color in the non-corrosive solution and another distinctive color in the corrosive solution; (2) have the color change in the proper pH range to give optimum protection, i.e., be tween about 8.5 and 6.5; and (3) are not decomposed during normal use by the drastic changes of temperature and other conditions extant in the car radiator.

Examples of indicators that conform with the above specifications and give color changes in dihydric alcohol solutions, as the pH of that solution changes from about 8.5 to about 6.0, include: the azine dye, toluylene red (neutral red); the anthroquinone dye, alizarine red; the triphenylmethane dye, rosolic acid (Aurin); the xanthene dyes: cresol red (o-cresolsulfonephthalein), chlorophenol red (dichlorophenolsulfonephthalein), and phenol red (phenolsulfonephthalein); the monoazo dyes: methyl orange and methyl red; the diazo dyes: Congo red and brilliant yellow; the oxazine dyes: lacmoid and lacmosol; and the nitro dyes: M-nitrophenol, p-nitrophenol, 6.8-dinitro-2,4-(1H,3H) quinazolinedione (dinitrobenzoyleneurea). 50% neutral red and 50% methylene blue by weight; bromothymol blue (3,3-dibromothymolsulfonephthalein) and phenol red; neutral red and methyl violet;-chlorophenol red and bromothymol blue; and 6,8-dinitro 2,4- (lI-I,3H) quinazolinedione and 'anthraquinone violet (non-indicator). A universal indicator may be used such as one containing methyl red, phenolphthalein, and

Mixtures of dyes may likewise be used such as bromothymol blue, as well as other dye mixtures of two or more dyes that give a dye having a distinctive color in the non-corrosive antifreeze solution and a different distinctive color in the corrosive solution within the above pH range. As has been noted, mixtures of dyes may be used. By this means a dye not within the desired pH range, such as methyl violet, can, by the addition of a complementary dye, neutral red, give, with the latter, a change within the desired range. The dye or mixture of dyes is used to the extent of from 0.01 to 0.5 gram/ liter of the antifreeze solution.

In the examples of the anti-corrosion antifreeze solutions of the invention given below, the percent is by weight unless otherwise stated.

Example I.-An anti-corrosive antifreeze solution is prepared having this composition:

Ethylene glycol percent 94.30 Borax do 1.33 Sodium hydroxide do .27 Water do 4.10 Phenolsulfonephthalein g./liter 0.1

automobile radiators and retained the initial red color for more than 65,000 test miles. in those radiators in which corrosion developed due to excessive oxidation or other causes, and the pH dropped below about 6.8, the

solution had less than three-quarters of its reserve alkalinity and the color changed from the initial deep red to a distinct yellow.

Example II.-An anti-corrosive antifreeze solution is prepared having this composition:

Ethylene glycol "percent" 95.00 Sodium meta borate do 2.75 Water do.. 2.25 Phenolsulfonephthalein .g./liter 0.15

This anti-corrosion antifreeze solution, as described, and when diluted with water for use in an automobile cooling system, has a distinctive red color which changes to a distinctive yellow color when the reserve alkalinity has been used up by oxidation of the ethylene glycol to acidic substances or by other conditions in the cooling systems that destroy the buffering action of the :sodium meta borate used.

Example IlI.-An anti-corrosive antifreeze solution is prepared having this composition:

Ethylene glycol percent 84.20 Propylene glycol do-.. 9.00 Borax d0 5.32 Sodium hydroxide do 1.06 Mercaptobenzothazole do .01 Water do .41 Phenolsulfonephthalein g./liter 0.1

This antifreeze solution has ample reserve alkalinity to protect automobile cooling systems from corrosion and, if through oxidation or other cause, develops acidity, such that reserve falls below an amount that reduces the pH of the solution below about 6.8, the color of the solution will change from a red to a yellow.

Example 'IV.-An anti-corrosive antifreeze solution is prepared having thiscomposition:

Ethylene glycol percent 94.30 Borax do 1.33 Sodiumhydroxide do 1 .27 Water do 4.10 Rosolic acid ...g./liter 0.1 As prepared, the solution has a pH of about 7.5 and has a. red color. The solution when diluted to 50% with water, the concentration usually employed in an auto mobile radiator to give the desired cold weather protection, has a pH of about 9.0 and when the pH changes to about 6.0, the color changes to a yellow. e

Example V.-The antifreeze solution of Example IV, except that cresol red is used as the dye and the color changes from a violet red in the non-corrosive to a yellow in the corrosive antifreeze.

Example VI.--An anti-corrosive antifreeze 'solutionfis prepared having this composition:

Ethylene glycol "percent; 84.20 Propylene glycol do 9.00 Borax do 5.32 Sodium hydroxide -do 1.06 Mercaptobenzothiazole a do.. ;.01 Water do .41 Neutral red 50% g./lite1'.: 0.1 Methylene blue 50% g./liter 0.1

This antifreeze solution has ample reserve alkalinity to .protect automobile cooling systems from corrosion and, if through oxidation or other cause, the solution develops acidity, such that reserve falls below an amount that reduces the pH of the solution below about 6.8, the color of the solution will change. from a green to violet blue.

.The term antifreeze solution as employed in the specification and claims includes the diluted antifreeze in the form in which it is circulated through the engine cooling jacket, and also the undiluted or partially diluted form which is suitable for packaging and shipping in accordance with the practice common in the trade.

We claim:

1. In a colored antifreeze solution containing a polyhydric alcohol of the group consisting of glycols and glycerol as the major constituent and a reserve alkalinityv from a corrosion inhibitor containing an alkali metal meta borate, which solution is corrosive to iron at a rate of no more than 0.1 inch per year, during use and over a period in which the reserve alkalinity changes'from full reserve alkalinity to one-quarter reserve alkalinity, a color,

indicator comprising a-pH sensitive dye that changes the color of the antifreeze solution when the reserve alkalinity falls to one quarter of the original reserve alkalinity.

2. The antifreeze solution of claim 1 in which the dye changes: the color of the solution as the reserve alkalinity decreases and the pH falls from 8.5 to 6.5.

3. The antifreeze solution of claim 2 in which the poly hydric alcohol is ethylene glycol and the reserve alkalinity is obtained from'0.1 to 7.5% by weight of sodium meta borate.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

1. IN A COLORED ANTIFREEZE SOLUTION CONTAINING A POLYHYDRIC ALCOHOL OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF GLYCOLS AND GLYCEROL AS THE MAJOR CONSTITUENT AND A RESERVE ALKALIMITY FROM A CORROSION INHIBITOR CONTAINING AN ALKALI METAL META BORATE, WHICH SOLUTION IS CORROSIVE TO IRON AT A RATE OF NO MORE THAN 0.1 INCH PER YEAR, DURING USE AND OVER A PERIOD IN WHICH THE RESERVE ALKALINITY CHANGES FROM FULL RESERVE ALKALINITY TO ONE-QUARTER RESERVE ALKALINITY, A COLOR INDICATOR COMPRISING A PH SENSITIVE DYE THAT CHANGES THE COLOR OF THE ANTIFREEZE SOLUTION WHEN THE RESERVE ALK 